Appointed to deliver Employer’s Agent, Clerk of Works and CDM Principal Designer services for the redevelopment of underused and vacant garage sites across Kent, delivering 8 new homes.
The client
Golding Homes is a community-based housing association, centred around Maidstone, with a proud history of providing more than 8,500 homes and serving around 20,000 customers. Their long term strategy focusses on putting customers first, delivering safe, high quality homes and ensuring Golding Homes is smart, efficient and future-ready.
The project
Faithorn Farrell Timms was appointed to assist with the redevelopment of underused and vacant garage sites across Kent, to deliver 8 new homes. The scheme comprised a mix of houses and flats for shared ownership, helping to meet local housing demand and regenerate previously unused land.
Our role
FFT was appointed by Golding Homes to deliver Employer’s Agent, Clerk of Works and CDM Principal Designer services in support of the development from RIBA Stage 5 (construction) onwards. As part of our Employer’s Agent role, we administered the contract, monitored progress, quality, and cost, chaired project meetings, and ensured that the works were delivered in accordance with the Employer’s Requirements.
We assisted the client with their responsibilities under the build contract and collated all handover-related information and certification in advance of and in preparation for handover. We oversaw the successful handover of the new houses and apartments to the client. For our CDM Principal Designer role, we assisted the client in ensuring they complied with their duties and responsibilities under the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM), collated and prepared the Pre-Construction Information, and collated information for the Health & Safety File prior to completion and handover. Our Clerk of Works role encompassed weekly frequency visits and surveys to ensure that works on site were carried out to design, the client’s requirements, regularity requirements and as per the programme. Weekly reports were prepared and issued.
All issues identified were recorded by written and photographic means, along with a tracker to check that items were being tracked and recorded, and eventually dealt with, resolved, and closed out prior to handover. Our Clerk of Works took a lead role in the inspections (snagging and desnagging) prior to completion, ensuring a high standard of finish, in readiness for handover.
Services provided
The challenges
Maintaining consistent compliance with the Employer’s Requirements required close coordination between the client, contractors and wider project team. Drawing on over 40 years of combined senior-level experience, we supported all parties with clear guidance and oversight, ensuring adherence throughout the project lifecycle.
Added value
FFT maintained a high level of communication, responsiveness, and quality throughout. This included issuing meeting minutes and inspection reports within tight timeframes, responding promptly to client and contractor queries and ensuring the client remained fully informed at all stages of the project. We took an open ‘around the table’ approach, working collaboratively with both the client and the contractor, for the benefit of the project and finished product. The result is high-quality homes for our client and the new homeowners.
The outcome
FFT are delighted to have been able to work with and assist Golding Homes with the redevelopment of these under-used garage sites to provide high-quality, new energy efficient homes for new first-time homeowners and wish them every happiness in their new homes.
Lenka Muir, Assistant Director of Development, Golding Homes, says, “Golding Homes have been developing existing garage sites to deliver much needed affordable family homes across two villages near Maidstone, Kent. These small building projects can be challenging but also make a vital contribution to meeting local housing needs in our rural communities.“
